Which is why he played the perfect Santa Claus at PS 13, Rosebank, on Dec. 23, where he handed gifts to each of the school’s 760 students.

Fortunately, there was no beard-yanking, temper tantrums or questioning whether Santa was real.

“I can usually circumvent that from happening,” Brennan said. “I can tell if there’s a mischievous glimmer in their eye.”

Instead, students were grateful as they shook, felt and even sniffed their presents to see if they could tell what was inside, all while giggling with one another and talking about their experiences with Santa.

The presents were a donation from The Dr. Theodore A. Atlas Foundation, West Brighton, which spent upwards of $10,000 dollars this year to deliver presents to schools, houses of worship, group residences and community organizations. The hope, according to founder Teddy Atlas, is that youngsters will learn that if they make the right choices in life, they will be rewarded.

“It makes me feel happy to meet Santa because it reminds me of the importance of the holidays and being with family,” said Bryanna Braithwaite, a fourth-grader at PS 13.

PS 13 Principal Paul Martuccio said the day was special for a lot of students, who were meeting Santa for the first time. He said PS 13 is a Title I school with needier students who may not have had the opportunity to meet the Jolly Old Elf otherwise.

“Events like these are wonderful because the students have a good time here and they enjoy the family feeling,” he said. “These students just work so, so hard. And when they are rewarded for their efforts, they only want to come to school more.”

Just then, a fourth-grade student walked up to Martuccio to say hi.

“What do you think you got?” the principal asked, pointing to the present in his hand.

“I think it’s a remote-controlled car,” the student responded.

Martuccio eyed a noticeable rip in the gift wrapping along the side of the box.

“Well, it looks like you did some investigative work,” he said with a chuckle.